Maravi

Rupiah won’t escape prosecution – Sata

Rupiah won’t escape prosecution – Sata
By George Chellah in Mpulungu
Wed 20 Oct. 2010, 04:00 CAT

RUPIAH and his ministers will not escape prosecution even if they remove the abuse of office clause from the ACC Act, PF leader Michael Sata has warned.

Sata, who was speaking after addressing a public rally at Kasakalawe village, said President Rupiah Banda and his administration were just wasting their time by removing the offence of abuse of office from the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Act. He said after a change of government next year, public officers would have to account for the wealth they have accumulated.

“Let Rupiah and his Cabinet not cheat themselves that by removing that clause, they are protecting themselves. There is no relief in what they have done. Let them not cheat themselves that they will escape prosecution by doing this. Once there is a change of government next year, they will definitely be prosecuted,” Sata said.

“They can remove that clause but the truth of the matter is that all those crimes committed from the time Mwanawasa died up to the very day Rupiah will assent to the bill, we will have no choice but to prosecute them. We will have to prosecute those crimes because we have to protect Zambia and protect Zambian resources and properties.”

Sata said Zambia’s leadership had a duty to safeguard national coffers.
“We know what is happening and whoever will fail to account for his wealth will definitely be prosecuted. For instance, there is a Cabinet minister, I know his name but will not mention him for now, who has accumulated a lot of wealth all of a sudden,” Sata said.

“This guy has eleven Land Cruiser vehicles parked at his residence as I am talking to you right now. Surely, it will be injustice to the Zambian people for us to ignore such suspicious wealth upon coming in office. We shall pursue them and they just have to account for their wealth.”

Earlier, Sata told the residents of Kasakalawe village that he was in the area to conclude the mourning of Lameck Chibombamilimo.

“When Chibombamilimo was sick in Lusaka, Kapembwa Simbao health minister and Gaston Sichilima home affairs deputy minister didn’t even go to the hospital to visit him. Even George Kunda Vice-President did not visit Chibombamilimo in hospital. I went to the hospital to see him after I heard that Chibombamilimo was sick,” Sata said.

“I went to the hospital and complained that, ‘what type of government is this which can’t look after a person who is sick and yet Rupiah Banda is busy flying all over?’”

Sata said Chibombamilimo was neglected.
“Chibombamilimo was dispatched to India like an animal. At least me when Mwanawasa sent me to South Africa there was someone who accompanied me. But Chibombamilimo just went alone like an animal,” he said.

Sata said MMD candidate Given Mung’omba was uncultured.

“Given saw how his brother Chibombamilimo died due to neglect so how can he go and say that ‘I want to replace Chibombamilimo on the MMD ticket, as if he didn’t see how his brother was treated?” Sata asked.

“Chibombamilimo didn’t choose to die. If you vote for MMD, then you don’t respect the death, you are just the same as witches who don’t treasure human life. You should know that every vote you will put on MMD, then you are traitors like Judas Iscariot.”

Sata said President Banda had come to destroy the country.
“When Rupiah was in Mwanawasa’s government, he wasn’t talking but when Mwanawasa died, he embraced thieves, saying ‘leave them; they are the remaining investors’,” Sata said.

“Rupiah has grabbed the harbour so that he gives it to his children and friends. He is cheating you. Mpulungu harbour is supposed to benefit the whole country and not just Rupiah and his children.”
Sata questioned the logic of Vice-President Kunda bragging that they were taking electricity to Kasaba Bay.

“Can you tell me what place is far between Kasaba Bay and here? George Kunda was saying that they are taking electricity to Kasaba Bay and yet you don’t have electricity here. He was also saying that they are grading the road to Kasaba Bay but which is nearer between Kasaba Bay and Mpulungu?” he asked.

Sata, who expressed confidence that PF would carry the day, urged his candidate Freedom Sikazwe to continue interacting with the people even after they elect him.

Labels: ACC, CORRUPTION, MICHAEL SATA

posted by MrK @ 1:56 PM